Yes I have - Pete Best book is told from his perspective, it's pretty slim (192 pages) - I would take anything he says with a pinch of salt, but it is good to read about the Hamburg days from someone who was in the trenches (so to speak)

The Kevin Howlett book is more of a factual diary type deal, there are some photos from sessions, as well as reproductions interdepartmental letters, pages from Radio Times. It also lists any non-music stuff the band did with the BBC (Kenny Everett, David Wigg)

Sean Egan book is good from a perspective of bringing together old articles published on the band by newspapers of the time.

The Kevin Howlett book is more of a factual diary type deal, there are some photos from sessions, as well as reproductions interdepartmental letters, pages from Radio Times. It also lists any non-music stuff the band did with the BBC (Kenny Everett, David Wigg)

I'm glad you mentioned this book. I've been wondering if such a book existed.

I said that it makes a good starting point. The fact that it's still published today speaks for itself.

I really enjoyed reading Hunter Davies' book. I had a lot going on at the time and took it with me to read while waiting at appointments and it amazed me how many total strangers asked me what I was reading. Of course I was happy to tell them.

Would it be worth it for me to read Davies' book even though I've read Bramwell's, Spitz's, Norman's, and the Anthology and probably others? I'm always hearing good things on it, but Lennon kinda ripped it.

Would it be worth it for me to read Davies' book even though I've read Bramwell's, Spitz's, Norman's, and the Anthology and probably others? I'm always hearing good things on it, but Lennon kinda ripped it.

Yeah, I think it would definitely be worth your while. This was the authorized bio and even if John had issues with it Davies spent probably more time with the band than any other author. I haven't read everything there is to read on The Beatles but I think that the footnotes in many subsequent books would show a heavy reliance of Davies' work. Like someone else, I think Nimrod said, there's no way to know for sure if the real story ever gets told but this was the band's golden opportunity to tell what they wanted told. And of course, we all know how John could be so don't let him stop you.

I'm not much of a fan of authorized biographies...The book often comes out as an infomercial...Does Davies go all the way back to the Quarry Men days?If he wrote this in 1968, he certainly picked an interesting time to talk to them as they were starting to hate each other right about then.

I'm not much of a fan of authorized biographies...The book often comes out as an infomercial...Does Davies go all the way back to the Quarry Men days?If he wrote this in 1968, he certainly picked an interesting time to talk to them as they were starting to hate each other right about then.